NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2026 10PM EST

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

NPR News: 01-01-2026 10PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Mayor Zoran Mamdani was sworn in today in New York City on a bitterly cold day with a crowd of thousands. Empires-Kadya-Riddle reports he spoke of a united New York City and pledged to serve those who voted for him and those who didn't. Mayor Zoran Mamdani promised New York that he would bring them together and uphold his ambitious campaign promises for things like free buses and child care, though he pledged to serve all. New Yorkers, he emphasized his commitment to and appreciation for the city's working class. I stand alongside countless more New Yorkers watching from cramped kitchens in flushing and barbershops in East New York from cell phones propped against the dashboards of parked taxi cabs at LaGuardia. He also seemed to reach beyond his base, saying, quote, if you are a

New Yorker, I am your mayor. The city's first Muslim and Democratic socialist mayor won a decisive victory in November in an election that saw the city's highest turnout in nearly 25 years. Katie Riddle in PR News. Affordable Care Act subsidies expired today, meaning higher health care premiums for millions of Americans. Those subsidies, which Congress created during the pandemic, helped lower or eliminate the monthly premium for those who bought the insurance on the health insurance marketplace. Senator Peter Welch says Vermont is one of the states that will see some of the highest premium jumps, and he says people are scared.

I mean, the affordability issues that every American is facing with rising utility bills, health care bills are a big part of it, groceries, this is really one where, in addition to the expense, it imposes an immense amount of insecurity. You know, a mother that I was talking to with two kids said she doesn't know what to do. She feels totally irresponsible not to have health care, but it's totally impossible for her to afford it. Senator Welch speaking there to NPR's Morning Edition.

The U.S. Postal Service says it's currently on track to run out of cash sometime in the next few years. NPR's Hansi Lo Wong has more. Tens and millions of households and businesses rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail and packages six days a week to every address in the country. But the federal agency generally receives no tax dollars to keep running. It relies instead on stamp and shipping fees. With the rise of digital communication and more competition from private shipping services, USPS tells the government accountability office it's on track to run out of cash in fiscal year 2029. That's assuming USPS keeps paying down its liabilities for worker pension benefits at roughly the same level.

To try to boost revenue in 26, USPS says it's taking bids from large and small businesses for special shipping rates for its nationwide delivery service. Some industry experts say that could push Amazon and other big shippers that stop relying on the Postal Service. Hansi Luong, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A ban on flavored tobacco products goes into effect in Denver today. Colorado Public Radio's John Daly has more. Denver voters in November decisively passed a measure to keep a ban on flavored tobacco. It was approved in 2024 by the City Council citing concerns about health impacts and youth use.

City Tobacco Program Manager Ted Montoya says the Health Department can issue fines and suspensions to retailers who violate the law. Our goal is to visit every retailer in the city and county of Denver two to four times a year, and we consistently make those targets. About 400 local governments in the U.S. have passed restrictions on sales of flavored tobacco. For NPR News, I'm John Daly in Denver. President Trump's expanded travel ban went into effect today. And now many Palestinians will no longer be able to get a U.S. visa. The State Department says it will reject visas for anyone using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. There are some narrow exceptions, rather, including valid visas issued before 2026, which do remain valid,

and some Palestinian diplomats and athletes may be exempted. Liberal Jewish organizations in the U.S. have been urging the Trump administration to reverse a move that they say will de-legitimize the Palestinian Authority and undermine diplomacy. U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Dow futures are up about a half percent. Nasdaq futures are up about two-tenths of a percent. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.